Willard woman had 129 foster kids

WILLARD - Marjorie E. Waltz, 75, a foster parent for 129 children, died Sunday of cancer in Hillside Acres Nursing Home in Willard.

Born in Willard, Mrs. Waltz spent most of her adult life in Attica, 10 miles west of Willard. As a youngster, her family moved around from one place to another as her father went from job to job, said her daughter, Birdie Kuhn of Attica.

Mrs. Waltz, one of the eldest of 12 children, left school early to help her mother rear her other siblings. Shortly after Mrs. Kuhn left home, her mother and stepfather, Paul Waltz, began taking in foster children, Mrs. Kuhn said.

The children were of all ages and were from several nearby counties. On occasion, as many as five children and three infants were living at the Waltz home.

“She always loved children,” Mrs. Kuhn said.

Last week, as her mother's illness progressed, a family member asked Mrs. Waltz if she had had 131 foster children, but Mrs. Waltz knew immediately the number was 129.

“She kept a photo album and had a picture of every one of them,” Mrs. Kuhn explained.

Shortly after Mr. Waltz died in 1980, Mrs. Waltz stopped taking in foster children and left her Attica home for an apartment in Willard. She spent her time doing embroidery, playing bingo, and helping out at the local senior center.

She enjoyed traveling around the state with her family.

Surviving are daughters, Birdie Kuhn and Sharon Hupp; brothers, Walter and Alfred Nichols; sister, Lucille Wilson; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, and five step-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be at 2 p.m. tomorrow at Lindsey-Foos-Kocher Funeral Service, Attica, where services will be held at 3 p.m. Burial will follow in the Attica-Venice Township Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.

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